Chief Operating Officer

Join to apply for the Chief Operating Officer role at Robinson, Inc. We appreciate your interest in joining our team At Robinson, Inc. we pride ourselves on our manufacturing solutions and ownership culture, which support the industries we serve and our local communities. Robinson is employee‑owned and is driven by a dedicated team of skilled professionals that value trust, loyalty, teamwork, integrity and accountability as the foundations of our organization. We strive to provide customer service that goes above and beyond the standard. Job Overview This position is a key member of the leadership team with broad operational responsibilities including manufacturing, supply chain/logistics, procurement, quality and maintenance. The COO will be responsible for ensuring that the company’s operations strategy fully supports its aggressive growth and cost optimization initiatives. The COO will work closely with counterparts in business and functional leadership to deliver superior operational performance across the organization, with an emphasis on driving efficiencies through Lean implementation, network optimization and other operational excellence initiatives. This is an in‑person position based in De Pere, WI. Applicants must live within a commutable distance to be considered. Role + Responsibilities (includes but not limited to) Lead Robinson’s operations ensuring development and implementation of efficient operations processes and systems to drive cost improvements Drive accountability and continuous improvement of operations and supply chain performance across key measures including safety, quality, delivery, cost, capital spend and working capital Build and manage a best‑in‑class team. Attract, develop, retain, and motivate the talent needed to be a high‑performing organization Drive the business’ planning and scheduling activities by implementing processes and controls Build a proactive culture of safety rooted in best practices Strategic leadership of multiple manufacturing sites, ensuring objectives are clear and all success metrics are aligned, providing oversight and guidance for all aspects of safety, manufacturing, distribution, quality, lean and supply chain performance Support and foster a culture of accountability, an ownership mentality and a strong sense of urgency Create a nimble operations organization that is ready to support New Product Introduction processes and new product launches as a critical pillar of the company’s strategic growth Monitor progress against plans, identify and mitigate implementation risks as necessary and continuously review the strategy against evolving business requirements and conditions, such as M&A and new product introduction Accurately budget for projects including monitoring and controlling costs Own overall capital plan and facilities footprint, driving continuous improvement across enterprise to maximize synergies within manufacturing operations to reduce costs, eliminate redundancies and improve processes and product flow Develop and manage the implementation of strategic plans, including manufacturing work models focusing on scalable Lean initiatives, standardized process control, strategy, and support for manufacturing excellence Develop and maintain a quality control program that ensures that customers receive a quality product, manufactured at a competitive cost, and achieve and maintain competitive and reliable delivery performance at optimum cost. Champion the deployment of Lean across the enterprise, particularly as the company evolves from a “job shop” environment to a production manufacturing/flow shop Partner with Finance organization forecast and analyze operational results, leading to actionable insight that drive outcomes Track and improve critical operational KPIs: Daily throughput OEE Productivity Capacity (Operational & Labour) On Time Delivery First Pass Yield Qualifications Education: Bachelor’s degree in engineering, with a focus on industrial engineering, metallurgy, mechanics or manufacturing. Advanced degree preferred. Manufacturing Experience: Proven leadership of multi‑plant manufacturing operations in businesses that manufacture engineered industrial products for sophisticated and demanding customers. Ideal candidates will bring experience with medium‑ or high‑mix custom fabricated steel products. Additional Functional Experience: Including Safety, Lean (multi‑site), SIOP and optimization. Fifteen plus (15+) years of experience in general management, manufacturing, operations and/or supply chain roles. Demonstrated experience leading change to transform manufacturing operations leverage Lean/Six Sigma. Excellent communication skills (written, verbal, presentation, etc.). A demonstrated change agent who can overcome inertia and the inherent aversion to change among long‑standing employees. Comfortable with the new and different and brings a creative approach to operations. Brings a proven track record in the development and implementation of innovative ideas, best practices, and strategies for quality improvement and cost reduction. Demonstrated proficiency leading the use of Lean and Six Sigma tools to provide sustainable continuous and breakthrough performance improvement. This would be evidenced by tangible examples of long‑term reductions in waste and variation, supported by a sustaining process that identifies, opportunities and programmatically applies the tools to improve. Strong business and financial acumen, ideally with some exposure to business non‑operational domains such as finance or commercial. Information technology‑literate with experience developing and deploying information systems in support of engineering and manufacturing operations. Track record of systematically developing both teams and individuals to build calculated team‑wide bench strength and balanced capability. Attracts, retains, and motivates talent. Results oriented and takes ownership of goals and objectives. A self‑starter. Critical Leadership Qualifications Strategic Approach: Adeptly assess the competitive landscape, identify company differentiators, hone the vision, and clearly articulate the tactical path to drive growth and profitability. Manage Execution: With the team, develop, implement, and monitor the tactical plans, KPIs and associated metrics that provide the foundation for the growth strategy and supporting internal structure and processes. Results‑Orientation: Drive organizational and financial performance with urgency; proactive approach in managing the business; forward‑looking and gets ahead of issues. Critical Thinking and Decision‑Making: High intellectual horsepower; assess issues at the right level of detail with the big picture in mind; drive decisions that balance appropriate levers; involve (but not bog down) the team in decisions to yield the best outcomes. Financially astute approach. Leadership: Shape the performance‑focused and team‑based culture; assess, coach, and develop the management team; inspire the organization to achieve objectives; set clear expectations, empower the team, yet hold people accountable; drive people development, talent management processes to elevate the overall level of organizational talent. Cross‑Cultural Competence: Culturally aware and sensitive with all stakeholders; understand, communicate, and interact with employees, customers, and suppliers from different cultures. Communication and Relationship Skills: Superior oral and written communication skills; transparency; supportive approach with the team; interface and build partnerships with all stakeholders, including customers, front line Associates, management team, and Board. Motivation: Aggressive, can‑do attitude combined with a strong results‑orientation and sense of urgency; intellectually curious and driven to do things better and more efficiently. Personal Qualities: High integrity; does the right thing; confident yet accepting of feedback without ego; ability to manage pressure while setting the correct course forward; even keeled given the daily industry challenges that will occur. Travel Requirements Some travel is required. At Robinson, we value professionalism, expertise, and a dedication to craftsmanship. We offer a dynamic work environment where employees are empowered to excel and grow within their roles. Join us in our mission to deliver exceptional metal fabrication solutions while fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and employee satisfaction. Robinson is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. #J-18808-Ljbffr